Recently we did an interview with Eduardo (Bass) & Lucas (Guitars) of prog metal band Maestah from Curitiba (Paraná, Brazil). They speak about their self-titled debut album (which has been released on March 7th.) and much more.
TMR: Hey guys this is ‘The Metal Resource’ from Holland, how are things going there in Brazil?
Hi guys… thank you for asking…. Actually, not so good, but God is in control of everything… In Him we trust….His strength is our strength, says the Psalmist…kk
TMR: How did you get into metal?
Eduardo: I getting into metal when I was 16, 17 years. Some friends showed me the album Angels Cry, of Brazilian metal band Angra. Since then, I heard all metal genres. The genres that I liked most is Power and Prog Metal.
Lucas: When I was just a little kid I already felt the maximum hearing a guitar solo, whether metal or not, the great watershed was when I was introduced to the sound of Living Sacrifice, over there I fell in love with metal.
TMR: What is your musical background ?
We like a various styles inside Metal. We like Prog Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Thrash Metal. Less Diego, our Keyboardist, every member had or have other band or project.
TMR: Tell us the brief history of ‘Maestah’.
Actually, we had another band previously, called Twilight of Time. So, in 2012, Celso had returned from Italy. We had released an EP “The Pilgrim” like Twilight of Time few months before. However, the vocalist left the band and we didn´t had anybody in mind. So, the vocalist that left the band presented Celso to us. We talked about a new project, and he accepted the new challenge.
TMR: Why the name ‘Maestah’ ? Is there a story behind it ?
When Celso joined the band, we decided to change the name. We try to find a great name. So, Lucas suggested the name Maestá, that means Majesty, in Italian, because Celso had returned from Italy a few months before. We accept the suggestion and putted an H in the name, to change the spelling… MaestaH…. we really liked the name, because we want to do a majestic song, for Him.
TMR: Who writes the music/lyrics in ‘Maestah’ ? … how do you get in the mood for writing music? And which bands/situations have influences you for writing music and lyrics ?
The most of lyrics is written by Eduardo, our bassist. About the music, one of us bring the principal idea about the song and show to everyone. After it, we start to compose the arranges. Eduardo have a great influence of progressive rock/metal. So, since the beginning of the project, his idea was to make a conceptual album, telling the history of the Pilgrim until the Celestial city… We tried to do it on this album. We had the episode of the death of Celso’s daughter, Sara. Celso composed a beautiful song for her and we finished the arrangements. We like a lot the 2 versions on the CD. The bands that we liked and inspires our songs are: Evergrey, Dream Theater, Pantera, Symphony X, just to mention a few names….
TMR: What are some key principles or phylosophies that you hold onto as foundational stones as who you are as a person?
Lucas: Before you do anything I ask myself: Why am I doing this? Because I’m here? It glorify God? This is in the Bible? If I find it not I stop or simply do not get to do, empty and purposeless things do not attract me and annoy me.
Eduardo: I make the same answer as Lucas. If it don’t have relevance, I don’t go ahead.
TMR: Is there already a highlight you will always remember, since the beginning of ‘Maetsah’?
Lucas: Personally what struck me earlier in the band was Celso situation with his daughter Sara, see it coming to rehearse coming straight from the hospital ICU was really something admirable, have followed everything that happened up close was really a lesson in life.
Eduardo: Was Celso´s daughter situation. Was awesome see him coming straight from the hospital to rehearse and knowing everything he passed. It really impacted us. Celso is a great man of God. God took her in 2012. It was a darkest time to all of us.
TMR: And the worst thing were ? (if there is one)
Lucas: It was, contrary my principles, when we touch a electioneering event, what irritated me the lack of purpose and the spiritual void that it had.
Eduardo: Every time we accept an invitation to make some evangelism and the structure is terrible. It’s irritate me.
TMR: So what makes you laugh?
Lucas: Being with my wife, my friends and playing guitar are things that make me really happy.
Eduardo: Being with my wife, my little boy. Also, being with my friends, make some noise and compose songs.
TMR: What is your biggest fear ?
Lucas: Lose focus and wasting my life with trivial things.
Eduardo: I think it´s lose the essence of we are and have. Our mission on the earth.
TMR: What are some of the things you like to do away from the band?
Lucas: Like listening to music, jogging on the street, watch MMA fights and the preaching of Paul Washer.
Eduardo: I like to have good times with my family, playing football with my kid, listening music, read, study.
TMR: Speaking of recording, your self titled debut album has been released earlier this year, what can you tell us about the album [such as: the recording process, the songs, label etc].
So, we recorded the album in 2014 and released it in December 2014. Producing the album was a work of 2 and a half year. We would like all instruments to sound like this way and that everything sounded as balanced as possible, within what we would like to present. We take every care to show it at time recording and production, which was in charge of our friend Karim Serri (Doomsday Hymn).
We enjoy various styles within the metal (prog, power, heavy, thrash) and try to put that in our sound, so that makes it dynamic, but generally played the sound we like and we enjoy doing this, all our influences are printed in the way we play.
TMR: About the cover artwork. Do you think it is as important as your music? Does it visualize the lyrics of your songs or what’s the actual story behind its concept?
Yes. We think complements each other. We tried to show to our public the concept of the album in the cover artwork, that was amazing.
TMR: How do you promote your band and shows ?
We promote the band and the shows through the internet, our page on facebook and with contacts of friends and other guys. Also, we always stay in heavy metal forums.
TMR: Tell us about the hardrock/metal scene in your area please?
The scene of hardcore/metal autoral in our area is small. The house show prefer cover bands. It´s sad.
TMR: How do you prepare for a show?
Lucas: In addition to rehearse with the band I usually spend the repertoire at home alone sometimes, especially the parts I find most difficult.
Eduardo: I make the same, and I try to make some heating before get in the stage.
TMR: What would be the ultimate cover tune for ‘Maestah’?
We think “The Pilgrim”.
TMR: What is your favorite concert that you saw and what made it so good?
Lucas: Was the show of Dream Theater in Curitiba, it was amazing for me to see a band that I like so much here in my city, in front of me, playing with incredible precision. The charisma of Mike Portnoy was something remarkable too.
Eduardo: In addition to Dream Theater show, that was amazing by the same reasons of Lucas exposed, was the show of Dragonforce here to. The agility and energy of these guys is unbelievable.
TMR: What is the most embarrassing music on your phone or in your collection and how do you justify it to others?
Eduardo: I prefer don´t talk….lol
TMR: If you could pick a band to tour with, who would it be? And where would the tour go?
We would like to tour with Dream Theater. In USA, Europe and Japan.
TMR: What is the dumbest question you have ever been asked?
Lucas: Whenever I go play ask me if I need to take … I’m wondering where that person expects me to call all this?
Eduardo: I don´t remember now….lol
TMR: What are the biggest obstacles for bands ?
We think the biggest obstacles for the bands is the lack of support by who can help the music and the scene. Also, the money to make good things is a problem.
TMR: As a band today, what do you think is the biggest challenge you face?
Keeping up the pace and start writing new songs better than we did
TMR: Any (tour) plans for the near future ?
We license a music for a collection of White Metal in USA. Also, we will try to arrange a tour abroad in the next year.
TMR: Guys thanks for your time and the interview. We wish ‘Maestah’ all the best … Is there anything you wanna say at last ? [any final statement ?]
Thank you so much for the opportunity to talk about our work here with you. To our fans and friends around the world, we would like to say thank you for your support.
See you on the road.
Band members:
Celso de Freyn – Vocals
Diego Maciel – Keyboards
Eduardo Pieczarka – Bass/Backing Vocals
Lucas Santana – Guitars/Lead Guitar
Alfredo Souza – Drums
Albums:
“Self-Titled” (2015) [review]
Weblinks: Facebook / Soundcloud